Carbon Hill goes green with grant

Published by admin on Tue, 06/09/2020 - 4:56pm

Photo courtesy of Jessica Harvey
NICK BORN OF J&J Concrete, whose late grandparents John and Louise Jensen were longtime residents, worked alongside other volunteers to help plant the 33 trees, remembering and honoring the Jensen’s Carbon Hill hometown pride.

Photo courtesy of Michele Micetich
CARBON HILL’S MUNICIPAL clerk Jessica Harvey, looks on with pride at all the hard work that went into helping to preserve the villages beautiful and historical park for many more generations to come while reflecting back on the many wonderful memories shared here through the years with her own children.

A $5,000 Urban and Community Forestry Grant will enable the village of Carbon Hill to preserve its community heritage and ensure continued enjoyment for all who visit its beautiful Carbon Hill Park.
The village is among 20 Illinois communities awarded grants administered by The Morton Arboretum, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and USDA Forest Service, to help improve Illinois urban forestry.
The grants were awarded through a competitive process, with over $217,000 in available funds distributed evenly north and south of Interstate 80, and communities competing in their own geographic areas.
Carbon Hill put its grant funds toward the addition of 33 trees to help preserve its catalpa grove and to help beautify the new playground area located on the northside of the softball field.
Designed and founded as a mining community in 1874, before its incorporation, the village of Carbon Hill maintains its strong heritage through its identity found in the Village Park, land gifted to the village in 1900 by the Big 4 Coal Company with the stipulation that it be kept in perpetuity.
The village park was originally outlined with 24 maple trees and the remaining rows upon rows of catalpa trees were planted over 100 years ago and help reflect its mining roots that established Carbon Hill.
Catalpas are a strong, resilient, fast growing shade tree that were essential living tools for mining establishments because their wood was ideal for use as railroad ties and fence posts.
Over the years, age and weather have taken a toll on some of the trees throughout the park. The grant will allow for new trees to be planted ensuring the longevity of the park's unique heritage and history.
Much like the initial catalpa plantings over 100 years ago, this time around went much the same.
On May 23 the project was completed by dedicated and passionate volunteers, public officials and part-time village staff who came together to help beautify and invest in the preservation of the park. Those individuals included Mayor Rich Jurzak, Trustee Chad Macaluso, Clerk Jessica Harvey, Todd Cumming, Nick Born, Paul Onorato, Tyson Spencer, Carter Macaluso, Creed Macaluso, Maggie Sterba, Sam Sterba, and Sully Edmonds.
As part of the grant requirements, Carbon Hill was required to match the grant funding, either financially or in-kind.

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